| Stand up paddle boarding has been around for a | | | | beginning to paddle moving into an upright kneeling |
| few years but I am pretty new to it. What a fun | | | | position and then, when you are ready, you stand |
| new discovery for me! Modern stand up paddle | | | | up with your feet in the same wide, evenly |
| boarding (sup) was 'developed' in hawaii several | | | | spaced stance and feet parallel position that your |
| years ago by professional surfers. It has since | | | | knees were in. You want your position on the |
| then, come to the masses, surfers and | | | | board to be with your weight relatively centered |
| non-surfers alike, athletes and those without much | | | | on the board. And you paddle. That's it. It doesn't |
| athletic experience, background or stamina. Sup is | | | | sound like much, and to watch someone do it, it |
| great for everyone and here's why... | | | | doesn't look like much, but the secret is in what is |
| Stand up paddle boarding is a low impact exercise | | | | going on with your body. |
| that burns a ton of calories! It is really 'no impact'; | | | | The work behind sup is all isometric and |
| there is no pounding, impact or harsh movement | | | | resistance. Your legs and your core muscles are |
| on any joints. You are standing, and paddling. For | | | | working at all times to keep you balanced on your |
| those with shoulder injuries the paddling might be | | | | board. At first you will feel it! Your body is |
| a problem depending on the nature and severity | | | | working many large and small muscles to hold you |
| of the injury. However, if you go at a time with | | | | and stabilize you as the water moves under your |
| little or no wind you can paddle very gently. | | | | board. These movements are not favoring left or |
| The statistics I have looked up quote a calorie | | | | right, front or back but working your whole body |
| burn rate of 500 to 700 calories per hour for | | | | evenly. Nice! Then comes the paddling part. Ideally |
| women and 800 to 1000 calories per hour for | | | | your have a lightweight paddle so as not to tire |
| men! Those numbers are off the charts | | | | your shoulders just from lifting the paddle. Every |
| compared to many forms of exercise and the | | | | time you paddle, not only are your arms and back |
| best part is that an hour on a board goes by | | | | working to move the paddle against the |
| very fast, most likely you will want to stay out | | | | resistance of the water, your legs and core |
| even longer if you have the time. Everyone I talk | | | | muscles all work to counteract the resistance and |
| to about sup has a story about how they, or | | | | hold your body upright against the movement of |
| someone they know, got in the best shape of | | | | the board. The fact is, it really doesn't feel like |
| their life by doing this great new sport a few | | | | that much work, but your body is busy! And yet |
| times a week. | | | | the experience is calm and relaxing, gets you |
| The main thing that stand up paddle boarding | | | | outside and into nature. |
| requires is good balance. The board itself is | | | | I think stand up paddle boarding is for everyone. |
| generally larger, wider and thicker than a surf | | | | This sport is spreading like wildfire. Look for |
| board with one or more fins on the bottom. As a | | | | someone going by on a sup board near you! |
| beginner you begin by kneeling on the board and | | | | |